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By Samuel Torlumun
It was cheering thunderous applause as he addressed Federal Legislators in Abuja, yesterday.
The meeting of National Assembly caucus members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP by a Presidential hopeful, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa was not for party fanfare, but a brainstorming session for building of a new Nigeria.
Presenting his 2023 presidential ambition to legislators, Ohuabunwa who is aspiring under the PDP said, he is offering himself to fit in the leadership gap that is lacking in the making of a new Nigeria.
He pointed out that, there is urgent need to reinvent Nigeria to make it globally competitive, and make it works for all.
“The old Nigeria is no longer working. We want a country that can work for the North, South, East and West. A country that can work for the poor, and for the rich. The one that works for the strong and the weak; the male and the female; for the able and for the disabled. It is a Nigeria that we will collectively call our own”, he said.
According to the convener of the New Nigeria, he has reached a stage in life where the life-long burden of living in a father land where bad governance is endemic, must be expressed. Ohuabunwa’s way of expressing it is, bringing to the table, leadership that will change the tide for the better.
“So ladies and gentlemen, this burden that I have been with and has refused to go, is the reason you’re here this evening.
“I have come to conclusion that our country is not short of knowledge. What is wrong with Nigeria is the ability to implement. This is because, there is lack of visionary leadership in certain aspects of our national endeavor in constant manner for many years. We seem to be a country that moves two steps forward, and go backward, four steps” he noted.
Against the background of providing the much needed leadership, Ohuabunwa is motivated to offer himself to offer the leadership that is lacking. “Leadership that is enlightened; leadership that is competent; leadership that is visionary; leadership that is of good character; and leadership that is courageous,” he said.
Expatiating, he noted that emerging from wealth creation, and global leadership participation in the private sector, his administration will create enabling environment for job creation, thereby creating youths empowerment, and bringing poverty ratio to barest minimum.
Responding, Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, thanked the Presidential hopeful for showing up. He said that, it is great privilege for Nigerians and the PDP to have the caliber of Ohuabunwa, coming to lead the country, adding that his class are not found in any political party. “We have heard you. We are impressed with your credentials, and your passion to make Nigeria better than it is today. That is what each and everyone of us want. We wish you well and tell you to continue to match on,” he said.
He bemoaned leadership backlash of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, saying that with the likes of Ohuabunwa, hope beckons for Nigerians as they won’t afford to vote APC to power again.
But, it is not only the legislators that believe Ohuabunwa’s capacity to deliver, many Nigerians are pointing at him. The Pharmacist is believed to have had what it takes to steer the ship of Nigeria because of his vast experience at the global stage, advocacy, and successful entrepreneurial skills.
He was the former chairman of Manufacturer Association of Nigeria, MAN, President, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, NACC, as well as Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG and Chairman of Organized Private Sector, OPS. He was actively involved in the fashioning of Vision 2010 and 2020 documents.
Apart from his private sector’s excellence, he has actively involved in the public sector administration both at the state and federal levels, being chairman governing councils of state’s institutions as well as board members of federal establishments. Some of these include; Nigeria Extractive Transparency Initiative NEITI, National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, National Manpower Board, NMB, National Institute for Social and Economic Research, NISER, Board of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria.
